Whiteflies on Ornamentals
SP290-R
Frank A. Hale, ProfessorOriginally developed by Jaime Yanes, Jr., former Assistant Professorand Harry E. Williams, Professor Emeritus Entomology and Plant Pathology
Whiteies are economically important insects on orna-mentals grown in the greenhouse. Although these pests aremost serious in the greenhouse, whiteies may also attackornamental plants grown outdoors. Some of the preferredwoody ornamental hosts include barberry, redbud,
Fucshia
,honeylocust, black locust,
Hibiscus, Lantana
, coffeeberry,rose and Jerusalem cherry.
Description and Life Cycle
Adult whiteies vary in size from 1 to 3mm. Theirwings are generally covered with a powdery substance, giv-ing them the appearance of tiny white moths. Adult femaleslay eggs on the lower leaf surface of plants. Their oblongeggs vary from yellow to pale green to purple. Some species(the greenhouse whitey in particular) lay their eggs in acharacteristic circle or semi-circle. Each female may lay upto 400 eggs and live as long as two months. Eggs requireone to three weeks to hatch.After hatching, young nymphs (immatures) crawl aboutthe plant for a few days, then settle down to feed. At thispoint, they insert their mouthparts into the plant tissue tofeed. They then remain motionless until maturity. Nymphsare attened and scale-like in appearance. A fringe of waxymaterial radiates outward from their bodies. This fringe ismade of thick waxy plates or ne strands, depending on thespecies. The nymphal stage requires three to four weeksbefore pupation.The pupa may be darkened (parasitized) or white,often with a fringe of long hairs on its back. The newlyemerged adult whitey is whitish yellow. It shortly be-comes covered with a white, powdery material.Whiteies reproduce very slowly (about one genera-tion per month). Whiteies in all stages of developmentmay be seen in infested plants. Several generations mayoccur each year.The removal of sap by this pest results in yellow-ing and drying of the foliage. While feeding, whiteiesexcrete honeydew ( a sweet sticky substance). Sooty moldfungi growing on the honeydew detracts from the ap-pearance of the plant.
Life cycle of the greenhouse white y. A, Adult. B, Eggs. C-E,Nymphs. F, Pupa.
Agricultural Extension Service
The University of Tennessee
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